Hong Tao’s expression suddenly changed. His eyes flickered toward the edge of the arena.
’Too far.’ His body was already outside. There was no way to push himself back with his legs.
Rei had used his own momentum against him perfectly. Any ordinary cultivator would have accepted defeat but Hong Tao’s mind was not ordinary.
In the split second before his body completely left the arena, he noticed something. His right hand was still above the platform.
"Playtime is not over." Hong Tao grinned.
BOOM!
His enormous palm slammed into the stone floor. The impact caused the entire arena to tremble. The force was so violent that several nearby cracks widened.
"What is he doing!?" The spectators gasped.
Hong Tao’s arm bent unnaturally under the tremendous weight of his falling body. His shoulder creaked and his muscles bulged. The massive arm sank downward like a pillar being driven into the earth. But Hong Tao did not resist his momentum, he used it.
His falling body swung around his planted arm like a giant pendulum, Hong Tao’s enormous body arched beneath the edge of the arena.
’He’s using his arm as an axis...’ Rei’s eyes widened.
Hong Tao’s body passed beneath the platform. For a brief moment, his entire body was suspended outside the arena.
His eyes locked onto the stone floor above him and his grin widened.
"UP!"
BOOOOOOM!
Hong Tao violently straightened his arm, generating enough force to launch his body upward. His legs swung over the edge, and his hand released the ground. His massive body rotated through the air before both feet slammed back onto the arena.
BOOM!
The platform shook violently but nonetheless Hong Tao stood there. One foot was barely inside the boundary.
Silence descended over the arena.
Hong Tao looked down and then he looked at Rei.
"That was close!" A massive grin spread across his face.
Rei stared at him. For the first time since the battle began, her calm expression cracked.
"What an animal." She spoke berating her opponent but beneath her annoyance was something else.
She was Excited. For the first time since entering the sect, Rei had encountered someone who could match her. Not in cultivation nor swordsmanship but in talent.
"Hahah! You are strong too. Gramps was not kidding, I really am not alone anymore." Hong Tao spoke as his eyes scanned the crowd.
"Let’s keep playing!" He grinned as his body shot out once again.
-------------------
Karn was observing from his heightened platform over the arena that Rei and Hong Tao were fighting in.
’Koko, that young man is learning at an alarming speed. He may very well possess the fourth of the five qualities - Combat Talent..’ Karn was observing the fight between Rei and Hong Tao with interest.
"I wonder if she will learn to have fun finally." Karn smiled wondering if his disciple would be able to learn the one thing he had tried to teach his disciple in the past month.
An elderly man’s footsteps resounded beside Karn as the fight went on.
"Elder Karn, your disciple is certainly a phoenix among its flock." The elderly man stood beside Karn’s seat.
Karn smiled.
"Elder Heavenly Mountain, your praise of my disciple is too much. She is still just a gem covered in mud. Your disciple on the other hand seems to be a dragon among other dragons."
The elderly man was the Heavenly Mountain Elder, known for his ability to survive any attacks directed at him.
"I would not consider him my disciple nor a dragon as of yet. My expertise is not enough to be able to guide him towards his destined strength. I have developed somewhat of a familial connection with the young man though." The Heavenly Mountain elder narrowed his eyes.
Karn’s closed eyes narrowed and his face changed expression slightly.
"You don’t mean to ask me to take him under my wing?" Karn’s focus moved from the arena to the elder beside him.
"Haha! Not quite, even if I can’t guide him perfectly. I am not so selfless to lose such a talented disciple. I wonder if Elder Karn would sacrifice some of his time to help me guide Hong Tao once a week." The Heavenly Mountain elder laughed.
Karn’s expression relaxed.
"Koko, I would consider you one of the most benevolent men I have ever met if you were serious. I wonder why the elder thinks I am the only one who can guide your disciple though." Karn replied.
"I have studied the outer sect for any disciples that could match Hong Tao in a fight and I believe your disciple was the only one. I was proven right in the end. Your disciple is as much of a genius as mine." The elder paused.
"That is why I am proposing the both of us to exchange insights on how to raise genius disciples such as them together." The elder smiled.
"You arranged it so that the two of them would fight in the first round..." Karn made a statement.
The Heavenly Mountain elder paused slightly, his eyes became slightly serious for a moment.
"Haha! So you figured that out as well... Indeed, it wouldn’t have made sense for the two of them to fight not in their best conditions."
"Koko..." Karn thought for a moment as he stroked his beard.
"...Not quite. You were considering your disciple would forfeit if he did not fight her first." Karn corrected.
The Heavenly Mountain Elder’s eyes narrowed. For the briefest instant, killing intent flashed within them. Then it vanished with a sigh of defeat from the elder.
"Elder Karn has read me like a book. It is as you say, Hong Tao would rather forfeit the match if he fought someone that could not handle his strength. What do you say...? Are you willing?" The Heavenly Mountain elder spoke.
"Nothing in this world is free Elder Heavenly Mountain, what will you give in return?" Karn asked.
"I was hoping you would just accept but nothing goes past you as I have observed..." Heavenly Mountain sighed.
"What if I join the fourth master in the succession war?" He smiled and pointed at himself.
Karn’s expression changed slightly.
"Koko... Do you really believe you will be able to survive the succession war by choosing the fourth master?"
"If Elder Karn supports the fourth, then I believe it will be my fortune not demise to follow." The Heavenly Mountain smiled.
Karn looked towards the sky before replying.
"Koko... Good."
Karn turned his gaze back toward the arena.
"Then I hope you don’t regret the side you’ve chosen."
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